Financial reform bill requires U.S. to pay millions to corporate whistleblowers

“The undeniable truth is that high-profile, publicly-traded companies like Bank of America and Goldman Sachs settle with the SEC because it’s more cost effecting than litigating a case,” said Koehler. The question then becomes, under those circumstances, why should whistleblowers receive any money at all?”

Regardless, this new program is going to change the way Wall Street does business — which is exactly what the president and the bill’s proponents in Congress want.

Firms will, in a way, become more transparent and SEC payouts will be monitored through an annual report to Congress. But businesses are bound to be confronted with a new environment marked by increased government involvement in the employee-employer relationship.

The SEC did not return requests by TheDC to comment.